Bracelet connecter



july 10, 1934. Q A DOMLER 1,966,063

BRACELET CONNECTER Filed Feb. 18, i951 Jg-Lz 37/f 7255 @K0/V295 a Patented July l0, 1934 PATENT oF'FlcE BRACELET CONNECTER Charles A. Domler, Providence, R.'I., assignor to The Hadley Company, Inc., Providence, R. I.,- a corporation of Rhode Island l Application February 18, 1931., Serial No. ."lf'll` 23 Claims.

This invention relates to bracelet connecters and pertains more particularly to extensible attachments for watch bracelets Aor the like. The principal object of the invention is to provide an improved attachment which is extensible to permit the bracelet to pass over the hand of the wearer and collapsible to retain the bracelet snugly about the Wrist, and which is also adjustable to vary the effective length of the closed bracelet and compensate for relatively small dif- I'erences in wrist size.

To the attainment of this general purpose, I have devised a simple, eicient and attractive attachment which combines the wide extension aiTorded by foldable elements and ,the minor but important adjustment furnished by providing cooperating members adjustable at any desired position with respect to each other by sliding one member relatively to the other. A particular feature of the improved bracelet resides in the provision of means carried by one of the foldable elements and readily operable by one hand while the bracelet is on the wrist for positively locking the sliding members in adjusted position, so that the adjustment will not be disturbed by the jars and strains to which a wrist watch bracelet is normally subjected.

Further objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description and will be pointed out in the appended claims; and it will be understood that the invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, some of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and that the structural details herein set u forth may be varied to rsuit particular purposes Without departing'from the spirit of the invention. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 isa top view of a watch bracelet equipped with a preferred form of the improved connecter, the attachment being closed and its slidable members being locked intermediate their adjustable limits;

Fig. 2 is a side View or the attachment, partly in section, illustrating the mode of releasing the slidable members;

Fig. 3 is a similar view, showing the foldableelements partially extended;

Fig. 4 is a bottom view, partly in section, o the extended attachment; 1

Figs. 5 and 6 are enlarged sections taken on lines 5--5 and 6-6 respectively of Fig. 1.

An attachment of the type herein disclosed may be employed to interconnect a pair of bracelet sections for Wrist watches or the like, and the precise nature of the bracelet sections or their mode of attachment to the connecter is not material to this invention. The sections or wrist-encircling portionsmay comprise flexibly interconnected links as shown at 11 in Fig. 1, may consist of leather straps, or may be formed of fabric or. other appropriate material; and they may be provided with end hoolrs 12 (Fig. 1) or other suitable fastenings for securing the bracelet to a watch or other article of jewelry.

In the recommended'embodlment chosen for the purpose of illustration in Figs. 1 to v(i,l the improved connecter comprises a frame-like bottom section 13 having sides 14 provided with inturned longitudinal flanges 15 defining opposed channels orguides 16; a rectangular connecter member indicated generally at 17 and Vhaving its sides 18 slidable in the channels 16 so that said member may be moved longitudinally of the bottom section 13; foldable elements 19 and 2 0 pivotally interconnected at 21 and` hinged to the member 1'? and to the end link 11 of one bracelet section at 22 and 23 respectiveiy; means for securing the attachment in closed position; and means carried by the folding element for locking the slidable member 1'7 against accidental displacement with respect to the bottom section 13.

One end of the base section 13 may be formed with an integral, bottom crossbrace 24 and may have side ears or sockets 25 receiving a pin 26 to which the end of the other bracelet section is suitably fastened; and the opposite end of the section 13 is provided with an integral bottom por- 'tion 27 aiording an abutment 28 at its inner edge and having an upturned stop or lug 29 preferably at its outer end for the purposes hereinafter explained. Between said bottom portions 24 and 27 and the sides 14 of the base section is a slot or aperture 30 receiving a depending lug or loop 31 carried at the inner end 32 of the sliding member 17 and adapted to limit the movement of said member by engagement with the bar 24 and the abutment or shoulder 28 respectively. The lug 31 may be formedoi' a U-shaped piece of wire having its ends xed in the end of member 17 as indicated at 33; or it may be of other formationand integral with said end if desired.

'The foldable element 19 may include individual side bars 34 held in spaced parallel relation by the pivotal connections 21 and 22; and the bars 34 are received between the side parts 18 of the sliding member when the attachment is closed (Figs. 1 and 5). The bars 34 preferably-engage beneath the edges of flanges 15 with a snap actionand bear frictionally' against the sides 18,

thereby to retain the folding member in said closed position.

The second part 20` of the foldable elements preferably consists of a straight central bar or link which is adapted to be received between the bars 34 of its complemental element'19, and its outer end 35 is preferably hooked to snap over the hinge 22 for detachably holding the folding elements together. It will be observed that this detachable connection may be effective when the attachment is partially opened (Fig. 2) or fully closed (Fig. 1), and that the full extension of the connecter is afforded by springing the hook 35 away from hinge 22 (Fig. 3). The folding link 20 also has a series of projections or teeth 36 formed along its bottom surface, and said teeth or serrations are selectively engageable with the lug 29 of the bottom member 13 (Fig. 6) to lock the sliding member 17 in adjusted position when the attachment is closed.

In the preferred form, as shown in the drawing, the teeth or serrations 36 and the projection 29 constitute in effect a ratchet and pawl which are disengaged when the folding member is open but are brought into engagement when the folding member is folded over in closed position upon the sliding members. With the folding member in closed position, sliding movement between the two sliding members in a direction to extend the closed connection is prevented by engagement of the projection 29 with the upright or vertical sides of theteeth; but sliding movement between the sliding members in the other direction, that is, in a direction to contract or shorten the connection is permitted since the projection 29 will click or ride over the inclined sides of the ratchet teeth. Although the action just described is recommended it will be obvious that the shape and location of the shoulders of the teeth or serrations and of the pawl or projection may bevaried without departing from the spirit of the invention.

A small cover plate 37 may be attached at the hinge 21 to overhang theend of link 20 and hence provide a convenient projecting lip 38 for releasing the closed attachment by the finger. When said lip is lifted to disengage the hinged member 19 and raise the locking link 20 (Figs. 2 or 3), lt is apparent that the position of the sliding member may be easily extended without displacing or removing the bracelet from the wrist; whereas, by separating the folding elements 19 and 20 (Fig. 3) the connecter may be fully extended (to the outer limit of movement of sliding member 17) so that the bracelet may be passed over the hand.

Hence, a very wide extension of the bracelet ls afforded with means for effecting a nice adjustment of the closed connecter, so that a bracelet equipped with the attachment above described may be `conveniently applied and comfortably wornupon wrists o f varying circumference. Furthermore, the closed connecter is thin, flat and compact, and its pleasing appearance enhances the attractiveness of the bracelet without sacrifice of 'operative efciency.

I claim:

1. An extensible connecter for bracelets comprising two sliding members connected to slide endwise one upon the other, a folding member, means connecting the folding member to one of the sliding members, said folding member constituting a connecting link between the sliding members and one end of the bracelet, and means inoperative when the folding member is in open position but operative when the folding member is folded over in closed position upon the sliding members to prevent lengthwise adjustment of the two sliding members in a direction to extend the same but to permit lengthwise adjustment of the two sliding members in a direction to contract the same while the folding member is in closed position.

2. An extensible connecter for bracelets comprising two sliding members connected to slide endwise one upon the other, a folding member, means connecting the folding member to one of the sliding members, said foldingmember constituting a connecting link between the sliding members and one end of the bracelet, and ratchet and vpawl means, inoperative when the folding member is open, and operative when the folding member is folded over in closed position upon the sliding members to prevent lengthwise adjustment of the two sliding members in a direction to extend the same but to permit lengthwise adjustment of the two sliding members in a direction to contract the same while the folding member is in closed position.

3. An extensible connecter for bracelets com- 100 prising two sliding members connected to slide endwise oneupon the other, a folding member, means connecting the folding member to one of the sliding members, the other sliding member and the folding member,l respectively, having locking elements so formed and positioned on said other sliding member and folding member as to engage with each other in any position of relative adjustment between the sliding members, when the folding member is folded over in closed 110 position upon the sliding members, and to permit sliding movement between the sliding members in a direction to contract the connecter but to prevent sliding movement between the sliding members in a direction to extend the connecter.

4. An extensible connecter for bracelets comprising two sliding members connected to slide endwise one upon the other, a folding member, means connecting the folding member to one of the sliding members, said folding member constituting a connecting link between the sliding members and one end of the bracelet, the other sliding member and the folding member, respectively, having locking elements so formed and positioned on said other sliding member and folding member as to engage with each other when the folding member is folded over in closed position upon the sliding members, one of said locking elements consisting of a ratchet and the other consisting of a pawl, the formation of the ratchet being such as to prevent relative sliding movement between the sliding members in one direction and to permit such sliding movement in the other direction.

' 5. An extensible clasp for bracelets compris- 135 ing two sliding links connected to slide lengthwise one upon the other, a folding link, means connecting the folding link to one of the sliding links, said folding link constituting a connecting link between the sliding links and one end of the bracelet, and a ratchet and pawl so formed and positioned on the clasp as to be in operative engagement only when the folding link is in closed position with relation to the sliding links, the for- 14,5 mation of the ratchet being such as to prevent lengthwise adjustment of the two sliding links in a direction to extend the same but to permit lengthwise adjustment of the two sliding links in a direction to contract the same while the folding link is in closed position, the engagement and disengagement of the ratchet and pawl being f governed by the closing and opening of the folding link.

6. An extensible clasp for bracelets comprising two sliding links so connected to each other as to slide lengthwise one upon the other and to project one beyond the other when in extended position, a folding link and means connecting the folding link toone of the sliding links, said folding link constituting a connecting link between the sliding links and one end of the bracelet, and ratchet and pawl means so arranged on the clasp as to be in operative engagement only when the folding link is in closed position with relation to the sliding links, said ratchet and pawl means being so formed that when in operative engagement they will hold the sliding links releasablyy in any one of several positions of lengthwise adiustment between the sliding links and permit a lengthwise 'adjustment between the sliding links for a relatively small adjustment of the clasp.

'1. An extensible attachment for connecting the ends of a pair of bracelet sections, comprising a bottom, a slide movable longitudinally in said bottom, a foldable element pivotally connected to the slide and adapted to be fastened in closed position over the bottom, and cooperating means on said element and said bottom respectively, for locking theslide in adjusted position with respectto the bottom, said means being operative when the foldable element is closed, irrespective of the relative position of the slide in the bottom.

8. An extensible attachment for connecting the ends of a pair of `bracelet sections, comprising a bottom, a slide movable longitudinally in said bottom, a foldable element pivotally connected to the slide and adapted to be fastened in closed position over the bottom, a-lug on said bottom, and a series of spaced shoulders on said` element adapted to engage said lug when the foldable element is closed thereby to lock the slide in adjusted position with respect to the bottom.

`9. An extensible attachment for connecting the ends of a pair of bracelet sections, comprising a bottom having opposed channels at its opposite sides, a slide having .spaced side bars slidable longitudinally in the respective channels, a folding member pivoted to the slide and closable over the bottom, said member having spaced sides receivable-between the bars of the slide, a folding link pivoted to said member and receivablebetween the sides thereof, and means for securing said folding, member and folding link in closed -position.

10. An extensible attachment for connecting the ends of a pair of bracelet sections, comprising a bottom having opposed channels at itsopposite sides, a slide 'having spaced side bars slidable longitudinally in the respective channels, a folding member pivoted to the slide and closable over the bottom, said member having spaced sides receivable between the bars of the slide, a folding link pivoted to said member and receivable between the sides thereof, and means for securing the slide, folding member and link in nested relation between the channels of the bottom.

il. An extensible attachment for connecting the ends of a pair of bracelet sections, comprising a bottom having opposed channels at its opposite sides. a slide having spaced side bars slidable longitudinally in the respective channels, a folding member pivoted to the slide and closable overA the bottom, said member having spaced sidesV receivable between the bars of the slide, a folding link pivoted to said member and receivable between the sides thereof, means for holding said link in nested position between the sides of the slide while permitting movement of the slide in its channels, and means for securing both said folding member and folding link in nested relation with respect to the side bars of the slide.

12. An extensible attachment for connecting the ends of a pair of bracelet sections, comprising a bottom having opposed channels at its opposite sides, a slide having spaced side bars slidable longitudinally in the respective channels, a folding member pivoted to the slide and closable over the bottom, said member having spaced sides receivable between the bars of the slide, a folding link pivoted to said member and receivable between the sides thereof, said bottom having an upstanding lug and said link having a series of longitudinally spaced shoulders alternatively engageable with said lug when the connecter is closed, thereby to lock the slide in adjusted positionwith respect to the bottom, and means -for securing said folding member and folding link in closed position.

13. An extensibleattachment for connecting the ends of a pair of bracelet sections, comprising a bottom having opposed channels at its opposite sides, a slide having spaced side bars slidable longitudinally in the respective channels, a folding member pivoted to the slide and closable over the bottom, said member having spaced sides receivable between the bars of the slide, a folding link pivoted to said member and receivable beleb' tween the sides thereof, said bottom having a,

central upstanding lug and said link having a series of teeth spaced longitudinally along its bottom and alternatively engageable with said lug when the connecter is closed, thereby to lock 'y the slide'in adjusted position with respect to the bottom, and means for securing the folding member and link in nested relation between the side bars. of the slide.

14. An extensible attachment for connecting the ends of a pair of bracelet sections, compris- Inga bottom having inturned flanges providing opposed channels at its opposite sides, a slide having spaced side bars slidable longitudinally in the respective channels, a folding member pivoted to the slide and closable over the bottom, said member having spaced sides receivable between the bars of the slide, a folding link pivoted to said member and receivable between the sides thereof, the sides of the folding member .Y engaging with a snap action beneath the edges of said bottom flanges, and means detachably securing the folding link between the sides of said member, so that the folding member and folding link are retained in closed position.

l5. An extensible attachment `ior connecting all the ends of a pair of bracelet sections, compris` ing a bottom member having longitudinal channels at its opposite sides, a 'slide having spaced side bars movable longitudinally in thel respective channels, a pair of pivotally interconnected links foldable into nested overlapping relation between the side channels of said bottom member, one of said links being pivoted to said slide,

and a lug on said bottom member, one of said I itl' 16. An extensible attachment for connecting the ends of a pair of bracelet sections, comprising a bottom member having longitudinal channels at its opposite sides, a slide having spaced side bars movable longitudinally in the respective channels, a pair of pivotally interconnected links foldable into nested overlapping relation between the side channels of said bottom member, one of said links being pivoted to said slide, and a lug in said bottom member, the other of said links having a series of longitudinally spaced shoulders alternatively engageable with said lug when the attachment is closed, thereby to lock the slide in adjusted position with respect to the bottom member.

1'1. An extensible attachment for connecting lthe ends of a pair of bracelet sections, comprising a bottom member having inturned side flanges defining opposed longitudinal channels, a slide having side bars movable longitudinally in said channels, a pair of pivotally interconnected links foldable into overlapping relation between said flanges, one of said links being pivoted to the slide, and mutually engageable elements on the bottom member and on one of said links respectively being formed for locking the slide in adjusted position when the attachment is closed.

18. An extensible attachment for vconnecting 'the ends of a pair of bracelet sections, comprising a bottom member having inturned side flanges defining opposed longitudinal channels, a slide having side bars movable longitudinally in said channels, a pair of pivotally interconnected links foldable into nested overlapping relation between said flanges when the attachment is closed, one of said links being hinged to the slide, means for holding the links in closed position, and means operative upon closing of the attachment for locking the slide in adjusted position with respect to the bottom member.

19. An extensible attachment for connecting the ends of a pair of bracelet sections, comprising a bottom member, a slide mounted on the.

bottom member and movable longitudinally thereof when the attachment is open, a pair of pivotally interconnected links foldable into overlapping relation over said bottom member when the 'attachment is closed, one of said links being hinged to the slide, the bottom member having an upstanding lug, and one of said links having a series of teeth alternatively engageable with said lug upon closing the attachment, thereby to lock the slide in adjusted position with respect to the bottom member.

20. An extensible attachment for connecting the ends of a pair of bracelet sections, comprising a bottom member having' inturned side flanges defining opposed longitudinal channels, a slide having side bars movable longitudinally l in said channels, a pair of pivotally interconnected links foldable into nested overlapping re" latio'n between said flanges when the attachment is closed, one of said links being hinged to the slide, means for holding said links in nested relation one to the other while the nested pair of links is in open relation to the bottom member and slide, and means for locking the nested pair of folding links in overlapping closed position upon the bottom member and slide.

21. An extensible attachment for connecting` the ends of a pair of bracelet sections, comprising four interconnected links including a base member having longitudinal channels formed along `opposite edges of one of its sides, a yslide movable longitudinally in the base member between said channels, and a pair of folding links 22. An extensible attachment forconnecting the ends of a pair o'f bracelet sections, comprising four interconnected links including a base member having longitudinal channels .formed alongv opposite edges of one of its sides, a* slide movable longitudinally in the base member between said channels, and a pair. of folding links hinged to eachother and adapted to., fold into juxtaposed relation on the channeled sides of the base member when the attachment is closed. means for securing the folding links in said closed position, and means operative when the attachment is closed for locking the slide in several adjusted positions relative to the base member, whereby the veiilectlve length of ithe closed attachment may be varied without disconnecting the links, said locking means comprising shoulders on one of the folding links and a complemental .lug on one of the other of said interconnected links.

23. An extensible attachment for connecting the ends of a pair of bracelet sections, comprising four interconnected links including a base member. having longitudinal channels formed along opposite edges of one of its sides, va slide movable longitudinally in thebase member between said channels, and a pair of folding links hinged' to each other and adapted to fold into juxtaposed relation on the channeled sides of the base member when the attachment is closed, means for securing the folding links in said closed position, and means operative when the attachment is closed for locking the slide in several adjusted positions relative to the base member, whereby the effective length of the closed- 

